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Maricopa County Parks and Recreations posted videos showing toads being placed into plastic shopping bags. One clip seemingly shows a toad moving around in the bag.

The toads are Sonoran Desert toads, also known as Colorado River toads. They are among the largest toads native to North America, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

"Sonoran Desert toads have extremely potent, defensive toxins that are released from several glands ... in the skin," DesertMuseum.org explains. "Animals that harass this species generally are intoxicated through the mouth, nose, or eyes. Dog owners should be cautious: the toxins are strong enough to kill full grown dogs that pick up or mouth the toads."

The toxins have hallucinogenic properties, leading some of the creatures to be victims of "toad licking."

Steve Curry with Banner Health said that "toad licking can be extremely dangerous."

"It's not possible to lick or eat toad venom, and hallucinate without risking or experiencing severe life threatening toxicity, such as convulsions or irregular heart beat," said Curry.

The suspects, two young men and a woman, were in the conservation area about two hours after it had closed for the night.

The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area wrote that the three violated Park Rule R-109, which involves vandalism and prohibits “[d]estroying, damaging, or removing … any county property or property administered by the department.” That includes toads, other wildlife, and any other "natural resources."

While the toads are not a protected species, the suspects removed the creatures without permission. The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area's Facebook post refers to the incident as "natural resource theft."

"It's just a really strange, really bizarre kind of tragic deal," said Randy Babb, with Arizona Game and Fish.